Riyadh 'among most polluted cities'

Riyadh, March 12, 2014

Saudi capital Riyadh has been ranked one of the most polluted cities in the world, a report quoting a World Health Organization (WHO) study said.

It named Ahvaz, the capital of the Khuzestan Province in Iran, to be suffering the worst levels of air pollution, followed by Ulan Bator in Mongolia, the Arab News said.

The list also included Lahore, New Delhi, Riyadh, Cairo, Dhaka, Moscow, Mexico City and Beijing, the report said.

The WHO study attributed the inclusion of Riyadh on the list to the occurrence of sandstorms, as well as pollutants emerging from heavy traffic and industrial waste.

Last week, Riyadh Governor Prince Khalid bin Bandar ordered the formation of a committee to look into sources of pollution in southern Riyadh, where citizens have often complained of pollution, said the Arab News report.